STOPMO NEWBIES - StopMotionAnimation.com2019-01-21T22:32:43Zhttp://www.stopmotionanimation.com/forum/categories/stopmo-newbies/listForCategory?feed=yes&xn_auth=nobest editing software for macbook protag:www.stopmotionanimation.com,2019-01-19:6519681:Topic:2162402019-01-19T04:14:11.231ZDarius Stuarthttp://www.stopmotionanimation.com/profile/DariusStuart
<p>Just looking for some input on editing software. I'm working on a macbook pro with Dragonframe. I've had Final Cut Pro in the past but if there's something that handles stop motion better then I don't mind trying something new. Thanks</p>
<p>Just looking for some input on editing software. I'm working on a macbook pro with Dragonframe. I've had Final Cut Pro in the past but if there's something that handles stop motion better then I don't mind trying something new. Thanks</p> Simulating the stopmo look and feeltag:www.stopmotionanimation.com,2019-01-17:6519681:Topic:2162332019-01-17T23:40:49.921ZDerrickhttp://www.stopmotionanimation.com/profile/Derrick
<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p>I'm directing a side project in which there is a sequence where I am hoping to simulate the look and feel of a stopmo film. I truly hope this won't be contentious here, and I promise I am not looking to cut corners or do any amount of disservice to the craft of stopmo filmmaking by not using physical puppets.</p>
<p>In order to achieve this, I am attempting to list some guiding "principles" to aid my animator(s) in achieving this. I am not an animator by trade myself, so…</p>
<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p>I'm directing a side project in which there is a sequence where I am hoping to simulate the look and feel of a stopmo film. I truly hope this won't be contentious here, and I promise I am not looking to cut corners or do any amount of disservice to the craft of stopmo filmmaking by not using physical puppets.</p>
<p>In order to achieve this, I am attempting to list some guiding "principles" to aid my animator(s) in achieving this. I am not an animator by trade myself, so I am looking to you all to guide me!</p>
<p>So... here's where I'm at. I had a chat with a friend, a 3d animator, and asked him how he would go about simulating this look. His answer was simple: to animate on 2's, or even 3's, and simply flatten the curves between frames. If you google search you'll see that digital animation forums have been parroting this basic advice for years.</p>
<p>With all due respect, I don't believe this goes nearly far enough to capture the look and feel of a stopmo film, and I am positing that beyond just the technical aspects and framerate, there are artistic hallmarks of stopmo films that are critical and intrinsic to the style. Here are some of them as I see them:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Jitter / noise / "human error"</strong><br/> I notice that even in the high budget full length stopmo films, there is plenty of human error in joint movement between frames. Because these are puppets being posed by hand, there is no perfect interpolation between bone positions. Also, you might get a sense that a wrist had to "wiggle" a tiny amount as that was perhaps what the animator held onto while moving the fingers, for example. It is this kind of micro-imperfection that I believe is what tells the brain that these are real, inanimate things being brought to life one frame at a time, even at 24fps.<br/></li>
<li><strong>Economical posing and weight transfer</strong><br/> Something else I notice in stopmo films is that in order to save time animating, not every body part of a puppet will move depending on the action. For example legs/pelvis may stay mostly or entirely stationary if only the face and arms/hands are gesturing. In digital animation we're so used to "realistic" weight transfer and movements having ripple effects across the entire body; inverse- and forward-kinematics will also ensure that movements of a joint effect others up the chain. But in stopmo puppets, sometimes there's a perceptible "lag" between body parts, which gives the animation a very signature cadence and rhythm, and seeing body parts stay perfectly still is also a "tell" to the brain that this is actually a physical puppet with forces being applied (or not) to some or all of it. Would you agree/disagree with this observation?<br/></li>
<li><strong>Not all animation principles are used</strong><br/> This is me speaking entirely out of my depth, but my basic point is this: puppets have real physical constraints in the form of their armatures, and depending on the style and materials (like Henry Selick's films for example) the puppets won't display certain properties like squash and stretch, at least not normally or without post production. This, beyond all the physical properties of photographing real puppets, is a key differentiator between stopmo and cartoon animation.<br/></li>
<li><strong>A distinct lack of blurring and smearing</strong><br/> Basically, because these are photographs being played back in sequence, there is a noticeable lack of motion blur, smoothing, smearing, etc between frames, unless added in post.<br/></li>
<li><strong>Lighting and atmospherics are small scale</strong><br/> In digital animation, we work with theoretically infinite and unlimited spaces where we can use the power of modern computing to simulate the real world and massive outdoor spaces. But...stopmo doesn't work like that, does it? These are sets being built and animated on small stages, tabletops, etc. The way stage lighting bounces and diffuses on a small puppet will be different from the sun shining on a human actor. This is all to say that simulating small scale and tight confines is key to the look. Furthermore, while there may be depth of field and other lens effects present, there won't be as much fog or atmospheric perspective.</li>
</ol>
<p>I believe that is all for now. I really appreciate any advice, guidance, thoughts, etc you all can share.</p> Dragonframe 4 Green Screen Issue Resolvedtag:www.stopmotionanimation.com,2019-01-13:6519681:Topic:2159992019-01-13T02:12:36.447ZRon Colehttp://www.stopmotionanimation.com/profile/RonaldSCole
<p>I recently began working on a project that required green screening a puppet, using my new Mac computer and my newly acquired issue of Dragonframe 4. I ran into trouble trying to get the color I wanted to key out.<br></br><br></br>I got direct help from one of the guys at Dragonframe to show me how to do it and I was enormously grateful for the live assistance. He hooked into my computer and set the key settings for me and all was good. But on the very next shot, I encountered the same problem.…</p>
<p>I recently began working on a project that required green screening a puppet, using my new Mac computer and my newly acquired issue of Dragonframe 4. I ran into trouble trying to get the color I wanted to key out.<br/><br/>I got direct help from one of the guys at Dragonframe to show me how to do it and I was enormously grateful for the live assistance. He hooked into my computer and set the key settings for me and all was good. But on the very next shot, I encountered the same problem. <br/><br/>Knowing it was something I was doing wrong and that the software would in fact do it, l pressed on trying to figure out what the problem could possibly be...<br/><br/>SPEED, that's the issue. For some reason, the eyedropper tool requires you to pick the color you want to extract from the shot very rapidly. I got it to work after recalling what I saw the guy from Dragonframe (Dyami) doing on my screen when we linked out two computers together. I did all the same step he did but he did them much faster than I did. So I tried doing it very quickly... and it finally worked!<br/><br/>So if you're out there ripping your hair out with the same problem, the solution is this - tap the eyedropper tool and then quickly tap on the color in the scene you want to remove immediately. Don't wait a heartbeat or Dragonframe will forget what you're trying to do.</p> Pictures too brighttag:www.stopmotionanimation.com,2019-01-11:6519681:Topic:2159802019-01-11T03:48:48.413ZKerobyxhttp://www.stopmotionanimation.com/profile/bobshultsz
<p>I've been reading and reading about my problem and not finding a solution... Can someone please explain this to me? I'm sorry for the bad picture... How should my settings be? I usually shoot with 2 second exposer, but now when I turn it to even 1 second it makes my shot completely white like the first picture.. I don't understand how I should be setting the white balance either. Hope someone can help...…</p>
<p>I've been reading and reading about my problem and not finding a solution... Can someone please explain this to me? I'm sorry for the bad picture... How should my settings be? I usually shoot with 2 second exposer, but now when I turn it to even 1 second it makes my shot completely white like the first picture.. I don't understand how I should be setting the white balance either. Hope someone can help...<a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/720838020?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/720838020?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/720849153?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/720849153?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></em></p> Progress Updatestag:www.stopmotionanimation.com,2019-01-09:6519681:Topic:2158942019-01-09T17:31:31.476ZAdam Loomishttp://www.stopmotionanimation.com/profile/AdamLoomis
<p>Hey all, I have made some progress on my stop-motion research project. Go to my blog <a href="https://www.adamloomis.com/msab-blog" rel="noopener" target="_blank">here</a> to follow along.</p>
<p>In short, I finished one ball and socket armature. It being my first one, it has a few problems, but it was exciting to see it come together. I should have some tests done by the end of this week. I'll be making two more this spring. </p>
<p>Here's a picture:…</p>
<p></p>
<p>Hey all, I have made some progress on my stop-motion research project. Go to my blog <a href="https://www.adamloomis.com/msab-blog" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> to follow along.</p>
<p>In short, I finished one ball and socket armature. It being my first one, it has a few problems, but it was exciting to see it come together. I should have some tests done by the end of this week. I'll be making two more this spring. </p>
<p>Here's a picture:</p>
<p><a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b8014368f51302bea8939ba/t/5c338c41cd83668d28eadad2/1546882134829/IMG_0857.JPG?format=1500w" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b8014368f51302bea8939ba/t/5c338c41cd83668d28eadad2/1546882134829/IMG_0857.JPG?format=1500w&amp;profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></p> rig removel helptag:www.stopmotionanimation.com,2018-12-06:6519681:Topic:2149552018-12-06T02:29:34.339ZFabianhttp://www.stopmotionanimation.com/profile/Fabian
<p>OK.. asking for help.. how do you remove rigs in Krita? I played with it little bit months back and tumbled into doing by luck... now I can not remember how it was done. please help if anyone has know how to this?</p>
<p>OK.. asking for help.. how do you remove rigs in Krita? I played with it little bit months back and tumbled into doing by luck... now I can not remember how it was done. please help if anyone has know how to this?</p> Tiny Space War: Stop Motion Experimenttag:www.stopmotionanimation.com,2018-11-10:6519681:Topic:2142852018-11-10T08:21:16.037ZDoubleGhttp://www.stopmotionanimation.com/profile/DoubleG
<p>For a stop motion animation course I'm following I made this clip.<br></br> I used so called collage stop motion technique and a green screen.</p>
<p>Using paper cut out and some nuts and autumn fruits, I tried to make a<br></br> space battle scene. Feedback is appreciated</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTJB11tMjLo" rel="noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTJB11tMjLo…</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>For a stop motion animation course I'm following I made this clip.<br/> I used so called collage stop motion technique and a green screen.</p>
<p>Using paper cut out and some nuts and autumn fruits, I tried to make a<br/> space battle scene. Feedback is appreciated</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTJB11tMjLo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTJB11tMjLo</a></p>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OTJB11tMjLo?wmode=opaque" allowfullscreen="" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe>
</p> Birds: A Stop Motion Collagetag:www.stopmotionanimation.com,2018-10-31:6519681:Topic:2142452018-10-31T18:57:30.273ZDoubleGhttp://www.stopmotionanimation.com/profile/DoubleG
<p>An experiment to try-out a a new stop motion technique. Using paper cut outs, making a simple collage. I'm doing a course on stop motion, it's a first for me, autodidact as I am :) But the teacher is cool and collage technique is new to me so I like to learn more!</p>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kZdYbMc2lA8">https://www.youtube.com/embed/kZdYbMc2lA8…</a>
<p>An experiment to try-out a a new stop motion technique. Using paper cut outs, making a simple collage. I'm doing a course on stop motion, it's a first for me, autodidact as I am :) But the teacher is cool and collage technique is new to me so I like to learn more!</p>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kZdYbMc2lA8">https://www.youtube.com/embed/kZdYbMc2lA8</a><br />
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kZdYbMc2lA8?wmode=opaque" allowfullscreen="" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe> Nikon camera + Dragonframe or Eclipse?tag:www.stopmotionanimation.com,2018-10-31:6519681:Topic:2143382018-10-31T16:40:56.831ZRo the Cathttp://www.stopmotionanimation.com/profile/RotheCat
<p><span>Hi guys!</span></p>
<p><span>First of all thank you all, I learned a lot reading this forum.</span></p>
<p><span>I used to draw 2d game animations (flash) so I'm not a newbie to that, but I never tried stop motion with Lego or anything else, and I have several technical questions before I start doing something bigger then tests.</span></p>
<p><span>What I have now: Nikon D40, nikkor-micro 55mm 3.5 (and several more non-vintage Nikon lenses for common use), Logitech 910, trials of…</span></p>
<p><span>Hi guys!</span></p>
<p><span>First of all thank you all, I learned a lot reading this forum.</span></p>
<p><span>I used to draw 2d game animations (flash) so I'm not a newbie to that, but I never tried stop motion with Lego or anything else, and I have several technical questions before I start doing something bigger then tests.</span></p>
<p><span>What I have now: Nikon D40, nikkor-micro 55mm 3.5 (and several more non-vintage Nikon lenses for common use), Logitech 910, trials of Dragonframe and Eclipse, Windows 7. </span></p>
<p><span>Dragonframe and Eclipse cannot work with my D40, even if they see it (cannot take a shot, give me error message). Webcam works ok, I just don't like the result. I followed setup manuals carefully, so probably D40 problem is 'cause of Windows7 and I just need newer camera? (ok, Christmas is not that far away :) It's going to be Nikon D5300 or D5500, I will use it not just for stop-mo) So... before I order a new camera...</span></p>
<p><span>q1: what would I see on the screen in Dragonframe or Eclipse <strong>if I half-unscrew my lens</strong>? Can I take shots looking at PC screen? Adjust focus? Does the camera screen work (on D5300 / D5500)? Or viewfinder and remote is all I have for such case?</span></p>
<p><span>q2: If it's down to viewfinder... how would you set up 2 cameras, like DSLR to take a picture + webcam to actually see what you're doing? Can't find a good description/tutorial on that.</span></p>
<p><span>q3: Dragonframe or Eclipse for Nikon? :) I know Dragonframe has worse live view for N compared to Canon, and that exposure adjustment sim is not working. Any known issues about Nikon + Eclipse? I really like their </span><span>rig removal tool (yes, I'm familiar with Gimp and can do it there, yet built-in option is nice to save time). Not sure if I need all Dragon tools. But the choice is actually more about better camera support (live view).</span></p>
<p><span>Thanks in advance for any suggestions!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p></p> Frame rate issuetag:www.stopmotionanimation.com,2018-10-17:6519681:Topic:2144072018-10-17T16:03:49.767ZNuttyCrayhttp://www.stopmotionanimation.com/profile/dorianmoore
I did my animation in 12fps but once I export the movie it's not on track with my audio please help me guys.
I did my animation in 12fps but once I export the movie it's not on track with my audio please help me guys.